theresa watson

7/29/2019 Theresa Watson

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The Energy Resources Conservation Board

Theresa Watson, Board Member March 2013


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The Energy

Resources

ConservationBoard (ERCB)

A quasi-judicial, arms-length

body created by the Alberta

Government to ensure that thediscovery, development and

delivery of Alberta's energy

resources take place in a

manner that is fair, responsible,

and in the public interest


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Multistage Hydraulic Fracturing Wells

in Alberta

Blue: all wells drilled in Alberta

since 1955

Light orange: all wells fractured

Dark orange: all horizontal

wells stimulated by multistage

hydraulic fracturing


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ERCB

Requirements- Draft Directive: Hydraulic Fracturing

- Directive 8: Surface Casing Depth Requirements

- Directive 9: Casing Cementing Requirements

- Directive 20: Well Abandonment

- Directive 27: Shallow fracturing Operations-

Restricted Operations

- Directive 29: Energy and Utility Development

Applications and the Hearing Process- Directive 31: Guidelines for the Energy Proceeding

Cost Claims

- Directive 35: Baseline Water Well Testing

- Directive 38: Noise Control

- Directive 44: Surveillance of Water Production

in Hydrocarbon Wells

- Directive 50: Drilling Waste Management

- Directive 51: Injection and Disposal Wells

- Directive 55: Storage Requirements

- Directive 56: Energy Development Applications

- Directive 58: Oilfield Waste Management

Requirements for the Upstream Petroleum Industry

- Directive 59: Well Drilling & Completion

Data Filing Requirements Visit www.ercb.ca


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Regulating

Hydraulic

Fracturing:Directive 027

Focus on shallow fracturing

Fracturing prohibited within

depth of 50m when sited within

200m radius of water wells

Only non-toxic fracture fluids

may be used above the base of

groundwater protection

Designed to prevent

contamination of non-saline

water zones


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Regulating

Hydraulic

Fracturing:Draft Directive

Focus on deeper fracturing

Preserving well integrity/control

Reduce risks of interwellbore

communication

Prevent impacts to water

and surface


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Regulating

Hydraulic

Fracturing:Assessing Risk

Risk assessment/review of

hydraulic fracturing issues:

Potential crossflow of fluids

Wellbore design

Chemicals used

Fluids and waste

management

Flaring and venting


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Seismic

Monitoring

Alberta Seismic activity

monitored for over 30 years

by NRCan

AGS studies potential linksbetween seismicity and energy

development

More than 20 seismometers

across Alberta

AGS partners with Canadian,

U.S. organizations to monitor

seismic activity in Alberta


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Public Concerns

Common concerns include: Truck traffic/road impacts

Noise

Duration of wellsite activity

Dust

Flaring and emissions

Wellsite lighting

These concerns relate to the

intensity of this new kind of

development

While groundwater contamination

is a concern often raised in media

coverage, it is not a primary

concern of the parties engaged in

the ERCB hearing process for

horizontal multistage fracturing


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ERCB

Unconventional

RegulatoryFramework (URF)

Effective and efficient regulatory

framework for unconventional oil

and gas that mitigates risk to

conservation, public safety and

the environment, and ensures

orderly development while using

the least intrusive regulatory tool

to mitigate risks.


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theresa watson

Documents